Rangers

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Rangers defender Leon Balogun has trained with a mask after a minor operation on a cracked cheekbone. Ridvan Yilmaz and Dujon Sterling (Achilles) are out for the season while Tom Lawrence remains out. Neraysho Kasanwirjo has recovered from a knee problem and played in the Glasgow Cup final against Celtic during the week.

Celtic have lost Jota to a serious knee injury and Dane Murray is also out for the season with a knee problem. Alistair Johnston (hip) also drops out but Yang Hyun-jun could return and Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn are expected to shake off knocks. Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder) is still out.

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Mohamed Diomande says there's going to be "a lot of regret" in the Rangers dressing room following the conclusion of another trophyless season.

They come up against their Glasgow rivals Celtic on Sunday, a week after Brendan Rodgers' side secured the Premiership title at Tannadice to make it 13 league titles in the last 14 seasons.

Rangers have won the previous two meetings between the two this term and regardless of Sunday's outcome, Diomande says there's still a lot of disappointment about how the season has panned out.

"We've won two games against them, it's in the other games that we have struggled," the midfielder said.

"I don't see any problem for Sunday, I know we are going to be ready for this game. I know that's something that happens every time we play against Celtic.

"I don't want to look back at the season already with four games still to go, but looking back I know there's going to be a lot of regret from a lot of us.

"We thought we could push in the other games. We know we'll be ready for this game. Our fans want us to beat them and we'll be trying to do that.

"Speaking for myself personally, I know I'm going to be hard on myself. And I've been hard on myself a lot of times. That's what I feel. I don't know what other players are feeling."

Diomande scored in the 3-2 victory at Parkhead in March and is looking to help the Light Blues register three league wins over Celtic in the same season for the first time since 2020/21.

"It's always nice to score against your direct rivals and I was happy to score against them," he added.

"The win was important. We always want to beat them. We know the rivalry is from a long time ago.

"We know what it means to the fans who come to support us. For a long time they couldn't come to support us at Parkhead. It was good to get that win for them.

"It's going to mean something to our fans. I know they have already won the league. But we still want to win our games and we want to win at Ibrox again."

A knee injury on loan at Hannover may mean Wales winger Rabbi Matondo, 24, returns to parent club Rangers. (Sun), external

Former Ibrox midfielder Scott Arfield does not believe Rangers' struggles this season will put off potential future recruits. (Record), external

On-loan Feyenoord defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo, 23, hopes to get some minutes at Rangers before the end of the season after returning from a lengthy injury lay-off. (National), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Despite the fact that Rangers' second-placed finish in the league is confirmed, interim manager Barry Ferguson is well aware that this weekend's Old Firm is no "dead rubber".

The former captain, who remains unsure whether or not he will be in the Ibrox dugout next season, is already looking ahead, and believes the result this weekend is a chance for Rangers to lay down a marker.

"It's not a dead rubber," Ferguson said. "You come up against your fiercest rivals who, again, have dominated this season, and that hurts.

"We need to go up against them and give them a reminder that we're going to be here next season and we need to challenge, certainly, in a better manner than what we have done this season."

Rangers' lacklustre form this season was evident again last time out, drawing 2-2 in Paisley with St Mirren.

Ferguson is aware that while fans value the style of football they see from the side, particularly at Ibrox, he is willing to sacrifice "free-flowing" football for three points this weekend.

"The reaction that I've got in training has been really good, but it matters when you cross that white line, that's when it matters," he said. "The proof will be in the pudding come lunchtime on Sunday.

"I just want to get three points. I know a lot of people want to see free-flowing and attractive football, and I totally get that, but it's all about winning games in football.

"It's clear that we've not won enough this season, and it's something that we need to get better at going forward, not just this season, but next season and the following season after that."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson has been speaking to the media ahead of this weekend's Old Firm match at Ibrox.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Ferguson says he was impressed with Kevin Thelwell, the club's incoming sporting director, after meeting him this week, but wouldn't be drawn on any discussion around his own future. Adding that the conversation on that topic will remain private.

• If he is to leave the role at the end of this season, Ferguson says he'll miss the job but won't "spit the dummy out" if he doesn't get it.

• Earlier this week, Ferguson met the prospective new owners of the club from 49ers Enterprises when they visited and welcomed them to Ibrox before showing them around.

• Whether he stays as manager or returns to an ambassadorial role following the conclusion of this season, he says he's excited about the future for Rangers. Adding that it has been an "amazing couple of months" with ups and downs, but has given him a taste for the job.

• On Sunday's game against Celtic, he says it is not a "dead rubber", now that Celtic have clinched the title, emphasising that it means a lot to him and should mean a lot to everyone at the club.

• Ferguson says they need to remind Celtic that they'll be around next year.

• The subject of a guard of honour for Celtic hasn't come up in conversation, adding that it's never happened in the past and wouldn't have bothered him, had he not got one as a player and doesn't think it'll bother Celtic either.

• On Celtic winning the league title, he says they are champions for a reason, and they've been the most consistent team.

• Leon Balogun has been back in training following an operation on a cheekbone and could return.

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty says he is not "aware" of a move to Rangers for Josh Mulligan, but it would not "surprise" him if the Ibrox club wanted the midfielder.

Mulligan, 22, is out of contract in the summer and has reportedly attracted interest from Rangers and English Championship clubs.

"No, not as far as I'm aware, but it doesn't surprise me," said Docherty.

"I've said it all along, that if these players show a level of performance that I think Josh has consistently shown now, as has Lyall Cameron previously in the season, as had Luke McCown prior to that, of course you're going to attract suitors.

"It's important Josh, he's a level-headed boy, he'll continue to focus on his performance for the team.

"Everything's about the team at the moment and just see where that takes us, but I'm just asking for him and the rest of the team to continue that consistent level of performance."

Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron is Ibrox bound this summer, having agreed a pre-contract in February, but Docherty has no doubts about the 22-year-old's commitment for the remaining four games of the season.

"He's a brilliant boy, he's just such a level-headed boy, he has a real maturity for his age and that comes with the exposure that he's had," added Docherty.

"He's played a lot of first-team football and he's played international football at his stage, as have the other ones, and Mulligan, with that brings a level of maturity and that's something that really impresses me.

"He's very focused, Lyall, and he knows Dundee is his club and he'll do absolutely everything to make sure we get results on Saturday.

"That's the players I want on my team, you know, not just good players, but players that are absolutely committed towards Dundee Football Club and Lyall's one of them."

We asked for your views on whether Rangers should make signing Vaclav Cerny permanently a priority this summer.

Here's what some of you said:

Ronnie: If we can sign Cerny on a three-year deal for under £6m it's a no-brainer. He's been our standout player this season. We have wasted £4m, £3m and £5m on players who have basically been awful. Cerny has proved he can play in Scotland and is a proven asset in Europe.

Andrew: At 27, Cerny is approaching the peak of his career but doesn't offer long-term resale value. For a club like Rangers, which benefits from selling developed or breakout players (e.g. Calvin Bassey, Joe Aribo), the signing of Cerny may not represent smart business unless/ he performs spectacularly - an unlikely bet given his career trajectory so far.

David: Signing Cerny should be a priority, not only is he a creative player that has a goal threat, he is about the only Rangers player that can take others on. If the price is around £6m then it's a bargain, we could easily sell him on for £15-20m in a year's time.

Ronnie S: Sign him immediately, sweet left foot, will only be better with better players around him.

Elaine: Not for me. He's scored a few good goals but far too inconsistent and a bit greedy. For that sort of money, I'd be looking for something better.

Brian: Cerny has been one highlight in this dismal team this season but I would not invest in him at 27 years of age. I would rather Rangers recruit younger and stronger players who can remain fit for sustained domestic and European campaigns and who could be sold on for a profit a couple of seasons down the line.

Jim: Sign him now. It should be obvious that he is one of the few who kept trying in a totally inept side. Kept going when those around him were getting less and less interested as the games wore on. No-brainer for me.

Barry: Buy him. He's proven he has the required quality. Shining light this season.

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• Rangers have won their past two league games against Celtic, last winning three in a row over their rivals in January 2021. The Ibrox side had won just one of their previous 12 against the Hoops (D3 L8) prior to their last two successive wins.

• After their 3-0 defeat in January, Celtic could lose two away league games against Rangers in a season for the first time since 2020-21, which was the last season they failed to win the Scottish Premiership.

• The side scoring first has only lost one of their past 26 league Old Firm derbies (W21 D4), with that a 2-1 defeat for Rangers at home in April 2022. In the past five league matches between the two clubs, the opener has been scored within the opening seven minutes.

• Rangers have conceded at least two goals in each of their past eight league games (17 goals conceded overall). The last Scottish top-flight side to concede 2+ goals more times in a row were Gretna from February to April 2008 (10).

• Celtic have a goal difference of +80 in this season's Scottish Premiership (102 scored, 22 conceded). In their league history, only in 1915-16 (+93), 1935-36 (+82), 1967-68 (+92), and 2016-17 (+81) have they ever had a better difference between goals scored and conceded at the end of a campaign.

• After guiding them to a 3-2 win in March, Barry Ferguson could become the first Rangers manager to win both of his first two league meetings with Celtic.

• Daizen Maeda has scored in three of Celtic's four meetings with Rangers in all competitions this season; he had only scored in two of his first 15 Old Firm derby appearances before this. Maeda has 33 goals and 10 assists in 47 games for Celtic in all competitions in 2024-25 overall.

• Each of Rangers' last 10 league goals against Celtic have been scored by different players: Tavernier, Sima, Matondo, Dessers, Hagi, Propper, Danilo, Raskin, Diomande, and Igamane.

Birmingham City are looking into the possibility of signing Kieran Dowell on a permanent basis after the 27-year-old midfielder played a big part in winning the League One title on loan from Rangers. (Daily Record), external

Bobby Clark, the 20-year-old midfielder previously linked with Rangers, is poised to be loaned out by Salzburg this summer, according to Kronen Zeitung. (The National), external

Celtic received £874,000 from European governing body Uefa for players called up to international duty, the largest payout in Scotland, almost double Rangers' £438,000. (Football Insider), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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It will have been of little surprise to most that John Souttar was the sole Rangers representative in the PFA team of the year, and that no player from Ibrox was among the four player of the year nominations.

That said, despite a dismal season for almost all wearing light blue, on-loan Czech Republic winger Vaclav Cerny has been something of a bright light in a Govan gloom.

With 11 goals in the Scottish Premiership, he is the second-highest scorer for Barry Ferguson's side, two behind Cyriel Dessers, and has 17 in all competitions as well as having created a league-high 71 chances for team-mates.

Cerny was a star in the club's Europa League run - scoring six goals in 12 appearances - and the following question has persisted throughout the campaign: 'Can, and will, Rangers make a move for Cerny permanently?'

It would be something of a statement from intent from the possible new owners, as the 27-year-old would not come cheap from Wolfsburg.

But building a team around a player who has exhibited such flair and brilliance could be the key to kicking off the new era on the right note.

Reports recently suggested Rangers are "running out of time" to sign up Cerny at a slightly smaller fee of £5.5m... should it be a priority?

Give us your take on Cerny's future here.

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There's been little to smile and shout about for Rangers fans this season, but one thing they have had of late is bragging rights in the Old Firm derby.

Their emphatic 3-0 trouncing of Celtic in the New Year's meeting was backed up by a thrilling 3-2 win at Parkhead under Barry Ferguson.

Now on Sunday they're going for three in a row, which would a first for a side who haven't won the top flight in the same season.

Celtic and Rangers have played each other four times a season in the league since the 1975-76 campaign and yet never in the half-century since has either side won three top-flight derbies and not won the title.

Rangers last beat Celtic three times in a single league season in 2020-21 as Steven Gerrard steered the Ibrox club to a first top-flight title in 10 years.

And Walter Smith's Rangers won all four league derbies to wrap up nine in a row in 1997.

Remind yourself of Rangers' previous two derby triumphs this season by checking out the highlights below:

Incoming sporting director Kevin Thelwell has told Rangers board members that Sean Dyche would be a "brilliant" next manager at Ibrox. (Football Insider), external

Rangers can win the title next year, says former Ibrox forward and director of football Gordon Smith, who cites the examples of Ange Postecoglou and Henrik Larsson at Celtic when it comes to finding the right manager and excellent recruitment. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

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Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

A victory in the final Old Firm derby of last season would have drawn Rangers level on points with Celtic. Such an outcome on Sunday would reduce the gap to 14 points.

So despite Callum McGregor's assertion that a third consecutive league defeat to their rivals would put a dampener on a potential treble-winning season, the reality is it's as meaningless as this fixture gets.

Rangers have fallen so far behind Celtic once again that only the most short-sighted supporter will take any solace should they overcome Brendan Rodgers' title winners at Ibrox.

What the game does represent, along with the three to follow, is an opportunity for the players to prove to incoming sporting director Kevin Thelwell they deserve a future at the club rather than ending up on a list of those to be shipped out in yet another summer of transition.

At least this one hints at a period of greater positivity, with the takeover by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises seemingly moving that bit closer as Tuesday's guided tour of Ibrox by chief executive Patrick Stewart suggests.

However, it's going to take one almighty transformation for this squad, which has performed well against Celtic and some top European teams but as evidenced by Saturday's draw in Paisley, come up short against 'lesser opposition', to suddenly become title challengers again next season.

It's not impossible though. Cast your mind back to the summer after Rangers stopped 10 in a row, when Ange Postecoglou was appointed at Celtic after a rotten season.

The following campaign, Rangers regressed and Postecoglou restored Celtic's position as top dogs, one they have held onto pretty comfortably ever since.

It's unlikely Celtic will be as complacent as Rangers were in the wake of that last title win but it shows that with the right man in charge and the right recruitment, change can happen relatively quickly. Rangers fans will certainly be hoping so.

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It will come as little surprise to anyone that the latest attempt at reconstruction of the Scottish Premiership has failed to get off the ground.

A change from the current 12-team set-up to one of 10, 14 or 16 were the options being discussed but the SPFL said "there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus".

Maintaining the status quo is a consequence of there being "no perfect option" for change, according to The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, McGowan said: "If you look at the options for expanding the Premiership, for 14 you would have to have probably a top six and a bottom eight and a different number of fixtures. So that's less than ideal.

"Look at the 16, which is the one that supporters really want. But Neil Doncaster has been saying consistently that you would then have to find a way to still preserve your four Celtic v Rangers games because Sky sports are not a charity. They're a subscription network who want to get the biggest numbers for games. So they want more Celtic and Rangers games.

"So it's how you square that circle with the 16 that's the problem. So it's not so much I don't think there's no great desire for expansions. There's no such thing as a perfect option and one that they can all vote for. That's the problem basically."

Former Scotland defender Maurice Ross, meanwhile, has accused Premiership clubs of "self-preservation".

"If they're going to remain the same, okay, let's put two clubs [automatically] down then and have a third-place play-off," said Ross.

"And we'll see what the reaction is of the clubs in four or five years' time. Then they'll want reconstruction."

Key members of the Rangers takeover consortium were given a VIP guided tour of Ibrox on Tuesday as a deal draws close to being finalised. (Scottish Sun), external

Dundee manager Tony Docherty is still hopeful of keeping midfielder Josh Mulligan despite interest from Rangers. (Courier), external

Rangers midfielder Findlay Curtis was forced off and using crutches after the youth side's Glasgow Cup win against Celtic on penalties. (Scottish Sun), external

Read all of Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

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Rangers B retained the Glasgow Cup by defeating Celtic B on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Firhill.

First-team defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo scored Rangers' opener, striking hard from inside the area.

Celtic levelled in first-half added time with Rhys Dargie turning home from close range.

There was a lengthy stoppage during the second half after Rangers' Cameron Scott sustained a head injury and left the field on a stretcher.

After 16 minutes of added time, the match went to spot-kicks and Rangers triumphed 5-4 in the shootout after Lewis Dobbie missed for Celtic.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson were in attendance at the final.

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First-team defender Neraysho Kasanwjiro scored in Rangers B's Glasgow Cup final against Celtic B as he continues his recovery from injury.

The Dutchman, who is on loan from Feyenoord, last played a senior match in early November.

He returned to training last week and scored the opening goal at Firhill, a firm strike from inside the box. Rangers B won the final 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Firhill.

Kasanwjiro, 23, has made 12 first-team appearances for the Ibrox side and could feature in their remaining four Scottish Premiership games this season.

Rangers host Celtic on Sunday (12:00 BST).

With Rangers' disappointing season trundling towards a conclusion, fans are looking ahead to a summer of huge change at Ibrox.

The club are set to come under new ownership - talks are continuing with a US-based consortium including the San Francisco 49ers - and a new manager also has to be appointed.

What might Ibrox fans expect in year one of the new era?

"I don't see 49ers and Andrew Cavenagh coming in and just throwing money at it and saying we have to go and win the league in season one," says Chris Jack of the Rangers Review.

Speaking on the Scottish football podcast, Jack added: "If you look at the way they have operated elsewhere, it has been a bit more of gradual build-up.

"And of course, in Glasgow, second is last and if you don't win the league, it's a disaster. Rangers fans will never accept not winning the title, not winning domestic trophies and not challenging in later stages of European competition. So the new owners will come in with all that burden and all that expectation.

"But I do expect them to try and build Rangers up. It's almost a bit of both. They will have to make inroads very quickly. They will have to be successful early on. But there will be a longer-term plan for the club to grow and evolve as the investment continues.

"In 12 months' time they need to have a trophy in the cabinet at Ibrox. Ultimately that's how their first season will be judged.

"I think they come in with a of a feelgood factor behind them. That feelgood factor will only remain behind them for as long as Rangers fans see that they are making the right decisions."

Paraag Marathe, the Leeds United chairman and the force behind 49ers Enterprises - the investment wing of the 49ers NFL franchise - is a key player in the prospective Rangers takeover.

Michael Normanton, co-host of Leeds podcast The Square Ball, says: "I can't see the fanbases of either club willing to accept being second place in this particular pecking order.

"There may be some transfer of players between the club, but it doesn't feel like we're entering like a Red Bull/City Football Group system where there's going to be a constant churn of players between."

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

Another domestic game, another shambles. The latest instalment was the draw at St Mirren after taking the lead twice.

I'm bored of the season and unfortunately there are four more slogs to go. I'm bored of this nonsense back-three shape and I'm bored of the same players making the same errors every week.

And then you have Barry Ferguson saying some players aren't listening to instructions - if that's the case, remove them from the team.

I can't say I can see where the next win is coming from. Thankfully there are only three games left on the season ticket and then this shambolic mess of a campaign - that started with John Bennett basically writing it off last summer - can be firmly put into the bin.

On the positive side of things, we have brought in a new sporting director in Kevin Thelwell. He, along with the incoming new owners and his recruitment team, have a massive task on their hands to repair and improve on this mess they will inherit.

Personally I'm counting down to the final whistle at Easter Road and hoping before then this team can maybe pick up a few victories or perhaps go one game without conceding two goals.

Rangers need to sign "at least six or seven first-team starters" this summer if they are to bridge the gap to Celtic, according to the club's former striker Kris Boyd. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen may struggle to come to a permanent agreement for Kevin Nisbet as the on-loan striker finishes the season on a high, worries former Pittodrie hero Duncan Shearer. (Press & Journal - subscription), external

And former Rangers captain Craig Moore reckons Kevin Nisbet would be a good fit at Ibrox. (Go Radio via Daily Record, external)

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.